Ultramarines - Warhammer 40k Guide

The Ultramarines are the paragons of discipline, strategy, and honor in the grim darkness of the Warhammer 40K universe. Descended from the legendary Primarch Roboute Guilliman, they embody tactical brilliance and unwavering loyalty to the Emperor.

Known for their balanced playstyle and adaptability, Ultramarines strike a perfect balance between firepower, mobility, and resilience. First-time players will appreciate their versatility, while painting them requires rich blue tones, gold accents, and precision techniques.

Ultramarines Honour Guard in ornate blue and gold armor, armed with swords and shields.

Who Are The Ultramarines?

The Ultramarines are the quintessential Space Marines, the exemplars of what it means to serve the Emperor. Descended from their noble Primarch, Roboute Guilliman, they are the masters of war in both strategy and execution.

Hailing from the rich, civilized worlds of Ultramar, they are not only warriors but also statesmen, architects, and protectors of a sprawling empire within the Imperium. Guilliman’s leadership shaped the Ultramarines into the most organized and efficient fighting force among the Space Marines, and his legacy continues to guide them in the brutal wars of the 41st millennium.

Despite their reputation for order and discipline, the Ultramarines are fierce and relentless in battle, crushing their enemies with tactical precision. They are warriors of ironclad honor, never breaking, never faltering in their duty. But make no mistake—the Ultramarines are not above ruthless tactics when the situation demands it.

They embody the perfect fusion of noble warriors and remorseless executioners, driven by the Emperor’s vision of a united galaxy. Whether in defense of humanity or on the attack, the Ultramarines fight with calculated fury and unshakable resolve.

What Are Ultramarines’ Army Strengths?

The Ultramarines excel through their tactical flexibility, discipline, and synergy between units. Here’s what makes them a powerful and adaptable force on the battlefield:

Tactical Versatility: The Ultramarines can adapt to any battlefield condition, making them one of the most flexible armies in Warhammer 40K. Whether using ranged firepower or crushing assaults, they can switch tactics with ease.
Superior Leadership: Thanks to Roboute Guilliman’s legacy, Ultramarines benefit from some of the best strategic leadership in the game. Characters like Guilliman himself or Captains allow re-rolls on failed hits and improved combat efficiency across the army.
Discipline in Battle: Ultramarines are masters of coordination, with abilities that allow them to fall back from combat and still shoot effectively, making them incredibly hard to pin down.
Balanced Playstyle: With access to a wide range of units, from heavy tanks to elite infantry, Ultramarines can craft an army capable of handling any threat. Their balanced playstyle offers both strong firepower and close-combat prowess.
Powerful Stratagems: Ultramarines boast a variety of powerful stratagems that boost their already strong units, enhancing their survivability, firepower, and tactical options in key moments of the battle.

Ultramarines battle in snowy terrain, defending a damaged vehicle amid intense combat.

Where Should Beginners Start?

If you’re starting with the Ultramarines, the following models will give you a strong, versatile force that embodies their tactical superiority and adaptability:

Primaris Intercessors: The backbone of any Ultramarines army, Primaris Intercessors are versatile troops that excel in mid-range firefights. With their bolt rifles, they can hold objectives and support more elite units.
Roboute Guilliman: The Primarch of the Ultramarines himself, Guilliman is a force multiplier who boosts the effectiveness of your entire army. His leadership abilities are unmatched, and he’s a devastating force in both shooting and melee combat.
Primaris Captain: Leading your Ultramarines into battle, a Primaris Captain allows re-rolls on failed hits, making your troops more efficient in shooting and close combat. He is an essential choice for enhancing your army’s discipline.
Repulsor Executioner: This heavy tank provides devastating firepower and transport capabilities, allowing you to move your forces across the battlefield while laying down a hail of lethal shots.
Aggressors: These walking tanks specialize in heavy firepower at short range, armed with flamestorm gauntlets or boltstorm gauntlets. They excel in both offense and defense, able to mow down hordes of enemies while soaking up damage.
Primaris Librarian: This powerful psyker adds a layer of tactical depth, casting psychic powers to support your army and weaken your enemies. The Ultramarines’ psychic potential makes them even more dangerous on the battlefield.

How to Paint The Ultramarines

Painting the Ultramarines requires precision and attention to detail, reflecting their noble and disciplined nature. Their signature color is rich Macragge Blue, symbolizing their connection to the Ultramar system. Gold accents, white highlights, and glowing weaponry add depth and regal character to their armor, making them stand out on the battlefield as the Emperor’s finest.

Ultramarines fight amidst a burning industrial city, leaping into action with bolters drawn.

Color Scheme Ideas

Noble Guardian

Base Color: Macragge Blue
- Use: The main color for the power armor, representing the traditional Ultramarines blue.
Shading: Drakenhof Nightshade
- Use: For recesses and panel lines, adding depth and shading to the armor.
Highlights: Calgar Blue
- Use: For crisp edge highlights on the armor plates, giving a sharp, bright contrast against the blue.
Accent Colors: Retributor Gold
- Use: For shoulder pad trims, chest eagles, and other armor details, evoking the regal Roman aesthetic of the Ultramarines.
Additional Accent: Mephiston Red
- Use: On lenses, purity seals, and Ultramarines insignia to add a striking contrast to the blue and gold.
Highlight for Accents: Stormhost Silver
- Use: To edge highlight the gold elements and metallic weapons, giving a polished, refined look.

This scheme is a classic Ultramarines look, emphasizing their noble blue armor with rich gold accents and a touch of red for contrast.

Primarch’s Legion

Base Color: Kantor Blue
- Use: A deeper, darker blue for the armor, giving a more subdued and serious tone while maintaining Ultramarine identity.
Shading: Nuln Oil
- Use: In the recesses and crevices of the armor for a stark contrast, creating a gritty, battle-worn appearance.
Highlights: Alaitoc Blue
- Use: For edge highlighting, adding vibrancy and definition to the darker blue armor.
Accent Colors: Brass Scorpion
- Use: For shoulder pad trims, weapons, and chest emblems, providing a warm metallic contrast to the cool blue armor.
Additional Accent: Abaddon Black
- Use: On weapon casings, knee guards, and other small details for a sleek, stealthy look.
Highlight for Accents: Runefang Steel
- Use: To highlight the brass accents and weapons, giving them a sharp, battle-ready sheen.

This scheme creates a more serious, battlefield-focused version of the Ultramarines, with darker blues and brass for a grittier, elite-warrior look.

Cerulean Paragon

Base Color: Calgar Blue
- Use: For a lighter blue armor, giving the Ultramarines a brighter, more heroic appearance that stands out on the battlefield.
Shading: Agrax Earthshade
- Use: To add subtle shading in the recesses and enhance the panel lines of the lighter armor.
Highlights: Fenrisian Gray
- Use: For edge highlights, creating a crisp, light contrast to make the armor panels pop.
Accent Colors: Mithril Silver
- Use: On shoulder pad trims, armor details, and weapons to give a silvery, clean look that enhances the heroic feel of the army.
Additional Accent: Khorne Red
- Use: For eye lenses, purity seals, and chapter insignia, adding bold contrast against the bright blue armor.
Highlight for Accents: Stormhost Silver
- Use: For edge highlights on metallics, ensuring a polished, reflective finish.

This scheme embraces a brighter, more heroic vision of the Ultramarines, with light blue armor and silvery accents, ideal for showcasing their status as paragons of the Emperor’s will.

Painted Primaris Captain miniature in blue and gold armor, holding a bolt pistol and commanding forward.

Ultramarines Painting Techniques

To capture the noble and precise character of the Ultramarines, you’ll need to use painting techniques that emphasize their elite status, well-maintained armor, and powerful presence on the battlefield.

Smooth Layering for Armor: Start with a base coat of Macragge Blue and layer lighter shades like Calgar Blue or Altdorf Guard Blue. Use a thinned down layer of Guilliman Blue glaze for a smooth finish and depth. The Ultramarines are known for their immaculate, polished armor. This layering technique ensures the blue looks vibrant, rich, and heroic on the battlefield.
Edge Highlighting: Use Fenrisian Gray or Ulthuan Gray to edge highlight the armor’s sharp edges, focusing on shoulder pads, knee joints, and the tops of the armor plates. Edge highlighting brings out the clean, sharp details of the Ultramarines’ armor, making them look both regal and battle-hardened.
Gold Detailing: For areas like shoulder trim, chest eagles, and weapon ornaments, use Retributor Armor as the base. Layer it with Auric Armor Gold and finish with a light highlight of Stormhost Silver. The gold represents the Ultramarines’ elite status and should gleam against their blue armor, emphasizing their role as the Emperor’s chosen.
Weapon Glow Effects: For plasma weapons or power swords, use a series of layered glows starting with a bright white base, followed by glazes of light blue or green. Blend outward to simulate energy pulsing from the weapon. This gives the model a high-tech, intimidating look, reflecting the potent wargear that the Ultramarines bring to battle.
Purity Seals and Scrolls: Paint the parchment with Rakarth Flesh and highlight with Pallid Wych Flesh. Use reds for the wax and carefully apply tiny black script marks for authenticity. Purity seals are a symbol of the Ultramarines’ unwavering faith and duty, so attention to detail here adds to the model’s character.
Matte Finishing and Polished Armor: Apply a satin or matte varnish over the entire model to give it a clean, battle-ready finish. Keep metallic areas like weapons and shoulder trims polished with a gloss varnish. The Ultramarines should look both professional and battle-hardened, their armor reflecting their discipline while still showing signs of wear from countless wars.

By following these techniques, your Ultramarines will embody the perfect balance of tactical discipline and martial honor. Their polished blue armor, glowing weapons, and regal gold accents will make them stand out as the Emperor’s finest soldiers, ready to face the horrors of the 41st millennium.